Borenore Public School is a little hidden gem in the district, says the local P&C, who are inviting parents to discover the benefits that can be had at a small country school.

Eight minutes drive from the edge of Orange, the leafy grounds of Borenore Public School are surrounded by vineyards and grazing land. 

The 150-year-old school itself is a cosy blend of old and new, with the heritage features of the original 19th-century school building sitting comfortably alongside the more modern renovations and additions. 

“It's a little school that's been going for a long, long time,” says Borenore P&C member Lauren Rigg, whose siblings and cousins all did their schooling at Borenore.

Continuing the family tradition, Lauren’s daughter started kindergarten at the school this year, and she says it has been a great experience for her.

“It's been lovely. Coming from preschool, where she was in a big group of kids, she had been quite nervous every morning when I dropped her off, but here, she just loves it. I can send her in from out the front on her own, and she comes in and really feels supported, and that's so nice,” says Lauren.

Fellow parents and Borenore P&C members Michelle and Liam Parton have sent all three of their children to Borenore Public School. Living in Orange, they first chose the school as they felt it was a better fit for their eldest son, a decision they’ve not regretted.

“Our oldest child was fairly shy and anxious and got overwhelmed in very busy situations, so we thought a big school might be a bit overwhelming for him,” explains Michelle

“And it was beautiful for him… I felt he might have needed some extra support in the classroom at a bigger school, but this environment was the support in itself.

“Our middle child is in year six now and she's loved being here all the way through… She’s still building stick forts with her friends and the boys are doing lots of digging and they're gardening and doing that explorative nature play. I feel like my kids have had a proper childhood with all those little elements here.”

Liam says one of the things they’ve really come to appreciate about the small school population is seeing all the kids of different ages learning to relate and play with each other. 

“The thing our daughter loves the most is that everyone just plays together out the back. They're just like one big family. Everyone gets along really well. It’s nice,” he says.

It’s also a valuable life skill, adds Lauren.

“I love that they get that exposure of a five-year-old having to relate to a 13-year-old,” she says.

“It’s a skill for life, learning that things aren't all going to be just how you want them to be all the time, that you have to learn to get along with different people.”

Michelle says it has meant their children have had mentors when they were young and then have had to learn leadership skills as they became the ‘older kids’ who are looked up to.

“Our daughter was also very shy and didn't say a lot when she first started school, and now she's just blossomed into this person who's really confident,” Michelle says.

“And I think it's because she's had that mentoring by older kids herself, and she's had opportunities that shy kids might not get in bigger schools because the more confident kids get on the Leadership Council or things like that.”

Being in a small school doesn’t mean fewer opportunities for children, says Lauren, who lists all the music, performance and sporting activities the kids at Borenore are involved in, like the weekly tennis lessons on the school’s multisport court.

Often these are done with students from neighbouring small schools like Cargo, Mumble or Stuart Town.

“And I think the academic engagement is really good too,” adds Michelle. “One of our year six students sat the selective high schools test and was successful. So she’ll be going through the Aurora College (a virtual selective school) program for high school.”

Like many small schools, student numbers fluctuate from year to year. With a large year six cohort leaving Borenore Public for high school next year, the Bornenre P&C is hoping to welcome new families to the school community.

“We just want to let more people know that there's the opportunity to come out to Borenore and that it's really lovely,” says Michelle. “It's only eight minutes from the edge of town and we've got a bus — about half our kids come from Orange. If people are looking for a change of school next year or sending their child to kindergarten… Why not consider a small school because there's so many great things about them. Come out and see!”